Company drinking in last chance saloon if it doesn’t reverse job cuts plan

 
Unite the union can confirm that strike action by 100 members is set to hit Diageo’s Cameronbridge distillery in an escalating dispute over jobs, pay and conditions.
 
Unite’s members emphatically backed strike action. The union will announce strikes dates in the coming days which is set to severely impact the distillery’s operations.
 
The dispute is based on Diageo’s plans to slash hundreds of jobs across its operations in Scotland as part of global restructuring proposals. 
 
Cameronbridge is Europe’s largest grain distillery employing around 200 people with over 70 roles under review at the distillery.
 
Unite believes Diageo has failed to properly consult on the job cuts at Cameronbridge, and the company has provided no explanation and minimal detail on the proposed redundancies.
 
The union has raised further concerns over worker safety and wellbeing due to roles being cut with no proposed reduction in production at the distillery. Unite’s members include production operators and cask handlers.
 
Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham said: “Diageo is drinking in the last chance saloon. Strikes will be announced in the coming days unless Diageo swiftly changes course.” 
 
"Diageo is raking in hundreds of millions of profit and there is no justification for slashing hundreds of jobs across its operations.”
 
Diageo has around 3,000 employees based in distilleries and bottling plants across Scotland. In its latest registered accounts, Diageo Scotland recorded after tax profit of £595m for 2025, and £736m in 2024.
 
Unite industrial officer Dougie Orchardson, said: “Diageo need to listen to its workers or the distillery will be brought to a standstill.
 
“Industrial action will inevitably result in supply shortages of many people’s favourite drinks. This is directly a result of Diageo planning to boost profits at the expense of its loyal workforce.”
 
Diageo produces high-profile brands including Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, J&B, Buchanan’s and Windsor whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness.
 
 
ENDS

Notes to Editors:
For media enquiries contact: Andrew Brady on 07810 157922 or andrew.brady@unitetheunion.org
Unite Scotland is the country’s biggest and most diverse trade union with around 150,000 members.